Jakarta, April 2 -- Indonesia's Public Works Minister Dody Hanggodo has urged faster utilization of Buton asphalt (Asbuton) to support national asphalt self-sufficiency.

He said national asphalt demand currently stands at around 1 million tons per year and is projected to rise to 1.5 million tons.

"However, nearly 80 percent still depends on imported petroleum-based asphalt," Dody said during a media discussion in Jakarta on Thursday.

He said global geopolitical tensions, including in the Middle East, have driven energy price volatility and affected the infrastructure sector.

"This has pushed oil prices higher and directly impacts strategic materials such as asphalt," he said.

Dody noted that dependence on imported materials poses ri...